Checkpoint for Thursday 5 December 2024

5:41 PM.The economy is close to flat-lining with the heat turning up on the Reserve Bank to bring forward interest rate cuts to avoid a recession. The numbers are bad news for the federal government, with… Read more Audio

5:33 PM.News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio

5:29 PM.It's the hottest ticket in town, but scalpers are trying to exploit fans wanting to get their hands on one. Tickets to the Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix derby this Saturday in Auckland are… Read more Audio

5:25 PM.High Performance Sport NZ boss Raelene Castle has given an emotional statement to the family of Olivia Podmore at an inquest into the death of the elite cyclist. Ms Castle told the family of the young… Read more Audio

5:12 PM.Almost 600 businesses are owed close to 40 million dollars by failing solar company SolarZero. The energy business announced its liquidation last Tuesday - the board of the company, that is owned by… Read more Audio

5:07 PM.Two truck loads of chicken carcasses, eggs and litter from an Otago farm infected with bird flu have been taken to a landfill in Southland. It's day two of the cull of 80,000 birds after some tested… Read more Audio

4:51 PM.Maketu pies are back on the menu as the iconic business has been saved. It's been bought by a catering company called the Montana Group after a two-week liquidation process. The pie shop has been… Read more Audio

4:44 PM.An extensive Amnesty International investigation concludes Israel is guilty of a mass and ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza strip. It is calling on the New Zealand government to ban… Read more Audio

4:41 PM.A South Auckland community is on tenterhooks after needles were reportedly found in a food products at a local supermarket yesterday. Needles were discovered in two different food products from… Read more Audio

4:34 PM.There's frustration and disappointment in Warkworth at news that long-promised improvements to a notorious intersection have been shelved, once again. Locals had been lobbying to fix the Hill Street… Read more Audio

4:29 PM.It's take two for New Zealand and England in their test series, the Kiwis desperate to bounce back in the capital after crumbling in Christchurch. It's been a lousy start to the home summer for the… Read more Audio

4:26 PM.New Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said it will be "very, very challenging" to increase officer numbers by 500 before November next year. The National-NZ First coalition agreement made the… Read more Audio

4:16 PM.United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about a huge manhunt underway in New York after the fatal shooting of a top health insurance CEO and Pete Hegseth's nomination for Defense… Read more Audio

4:07 PM.Nine helicopters, three planes and 12 fire trucks have been battling the blaze, which is about 450 hectares in size - but so far they have not been able to contain it. Strong winds have been hampering… Read more Audio